How do we know if DigitalNZ is hitting the mark? We listen to what people say; watch what people do; and change our approach if we're getting it wrong.

Here are some examples of positive comments we've come across to date.

People who use NZ digital content

"I found your gas mask image on google and I'd like to use it for a pattern in one of the head wear items I'm designing. I'm the head designer of a new outdoor lifestyle brand."
(User who came across content via the DigitalNZ Kete)

"I made a movie last night with mum [using the DigitalNZ Memory Maker]. Mum said it was really cool, we should send it to people. That's what I did."
(School student, Room 5, Nelson Central School)

"The incredible array of collections made available through this one interface [http://search.digitalnz.org] would be news enough for many libraries. But the joy doesn't stop there...."
(Libraries, archives, and museums blogger)

Content providers

(Adrian and Victoria from Te Papa give encouragement to others to get involved with Digital New Zealand)

"Thanks for directing me to room 5's masterpiece. It's really exciting to see our content being used like this and I can't wait to see what else evolves."
(Project manager photographic collections, The Nelson Provincial Museum)

"The harvesting of our records went splendidly - overnight. We had to tweak the timing to be very early in this morning but this was no problem to DigitalNZ."
(Content provider, anonymous survey)

"Take a look at our site statistics - we have had our highest unique visitors yet - over 5000 for the month. I can't see what can have brought the traffic to the site other than DigitalNZ."
(Content provider, anonymous survey)

Developers

"Having recently been exploring how schools can use the new DigitalNZ API (accross their metadata collection harvested from 30+ NZ content stores on the black web) I was impressed by their openness to suggestions."
(Education system provider, comment on blog post)

"It should be said, that in looking for examples to guide us in the non-profit world, we didn't find many, but there was one shining beacon of light coming from New Zealand. [...] This was a terrific example to follow and we couldn't have been happier to have it to consider as we moved forward with our own."
(Shelley Bernstein, Brooklyn Museum)

Commentators

"Wow! You can see the educational uses [of the search widget builder] immediately. Pop a search on your wiki or Web site relating to your class's inquiry or project - learners will be guaranteed quality New Zealand content on that topic."
(Sarah Jones, Lunch Box: Software & digital media for learning)

"The customisable search builder is so very cool, and it is easy to imagine its usefulness in enhancing the conditions of value in teaching and learning when students are researchers or when students are inquirers or when students are knowledge builders."
(Artichoke)

"There is not [sic] other project which is so consistent, courageous and innovative and open-minded like yours! I wish our government would be so ambitious on this topic. I think I should finalize my work and move to nz :)"
(German graphic design student, working on diploma about connecting digital knowledge and real objects in museums)